Hate crime investigation after incidents at Tracy home

TRACY - Nancy Young and her family are baffled by the recent acts of vandalism at their suburban home on a quiet residential street in this rapidly changing south county city.

Joe Goldeen

TRACY - Nancy Young and her family are baffled by the recent acts of vandalism at their suburban home on a quiet residential street in this rapidly changing south county city.

Two bizarre recent incidents, separated by a week, are being investigated by Tracy police as hate crimes.

In November, Young, 43, finished on top of a field of five contenders for two open seats on the Tracy City Council. Young and her husband, James, a pastor, book publisher and graphic artist, are also leaders within Tracy's black community.

At 1:30 a.m. July 2, someone rang the doorbell at the Young household. No one answered the door, but about 6 a.m. that morning, the family discovered ornamental rocks from their front-yard garden had been placed on their lawn in the shape of a swastika, a recognized symbol of hate. Rocks had also been placed behind two tires of Nancy Young's car parked in the driveway.

A week later, a blood-stained bag containing seven jackrabbits with their throats slit was left on the sidewalk in front of the Young home. If there is any symbolism to that act, no one has yet stepped forward to try to explain it.

It has been more than a week since the second incident and nothing more has occurred. "Hopefully, this is the end of all that. Whatever has been done, I still don't know the exact message. Leave me a note or call me. I'm available," Young said, indicating that she is easily accessible through City Hall and is well known around town for her many other civic activities.

Young can't recall any of her actions during her short tenure on the City Council causing any rancor. "I proposed the idea of a senior commission to address the needs of the elderly, and we spent two hours discussing that," but she can't explain why she would be singled out for any other actions taken by the council.

Characterizing the incidents as "troubling," Tracy City Manager Leon Churchill said, "This community is more resilient and strong in its diversity than anyone can imagine. We are home to people of all hues, all faiths, all ethnicities and all beliefs. I respect that, but I don't respect hate crimes."

Young's neighbors are aware and are being extra vigilant, according to Kim Dauzat and her son Mike, 24, who live two houses away. "I would offer to put up a camera on my house. We want to help," she said. Mike Dauzat said he and his brother have stayed up late watching for suspicious activity.

Young said the incidents have made her active family more cautious, but they have in no way dampened her enthusiasm or positive feelings about the community she chose to live in seven years ago. The fact that animals were killed to send some undefined message has saddened her, but fear is not in her vocabulary.

"I am not trying to die young as a martyr. I am trying to do things positive, to live my life here as a member of this community," said Young, who has a degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master of business administration from the University of Phoenix.

Young's early life was spent in Compton, a primarily black community in Southern California. A drive-by shooting on her street prompted her family to move to San Fernando, a much more diverse community where, in high school, Young edited the yearbook and was elected student body president. When she's not attending to Tracy city business or being a mom to her four children and four stepchildren, she works as a project manager for JPMorgan. She is also the author of five books, the first of which just happened to be about conquering fear.

One black Tracy woman told Young she believed the incidents were "a message for all us black people who refuse to stay in our place," but no one has verbalized that to Young.

"For some people, that is just how they feel. You hear that during a political season. I have always thought I'm a fair person and hear everybody, and I do it all for free. None of my family is fearful; all of us are just moving forward in life," she said.

There was no monetary damage associated with the vandalism, but police have stepped up patrols on the Youngs' street. Following the first incident, acting police Capt. Mark Duxbury issued the following statement:

"The Tracy Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety of the community and not allowing despicable crimes like this (to) detract or intimidate the diversity that enriches the Tracy community."

The statement went on to note that the city experienced two hate crimes - as defined by the Department of Justice - in 2011 and 2012. "Although no act of bias is acceptable, the community of Tracy is not subject to acts of bias-motivated crimes any more than surrounding communities of the same size."

Young said, "It would be an uproar if it happened to more people. I know people want me to get so upset so they can get upset with me, but I am not going to give (the perpetrators) power over my emotions. Police are looking at so many angles; I will be happy when it is done."